The Islington Plan for Looked After Children and ... - Islington Council

Priority 5:
To ensure young people are prepared for
independence and successful adult lives
5.5.1 The current position
a. For most young people who have not been looked after, leaving home is a
gradual process and they have the opportunity to return to the family
home for short or longer periods of time. Young people who have been
looked after, although more vulnerable and disadvantaged in comparison
with their non-looked after peers, have in the past been driven towards
independence by their age, rather than their readiness.
b. This is despite the fact that they are a diverse group of young people with
a range of support needs and with differing levels of the practical and
emotional skills needed for independent living.
c. In recognition of these factors, significant changes to the way in which
children looked after move from care to independence are now enshrined
in legislation. Local authorities’ support for young people must now mirror
that of a reasonable parent.
d. The most prominent changes in the legislation relate to:
Extending care placements for young people past eighteen years;
Enabling young people who have left care and who have not achieved the
education or training they need to return for a leaving care service after
the age of 21.
e. In response, we have redesigned the way in which children looked after
are supported to leave care.
f. Management of leaving care services returned to the Council after six
years of delivery by a provider. This has supported a better integration of
services to children looked after as they prepare for independence.
Responsibility for the care management of young people up until the age
of eighteen is now held by the Children Looked After Service within
Children’s Social Care, with the input of an Independent Futures personal
advisor.
g. A Preparation for Independence Strategy and Toolkit has been introduced,
supported by integrated training for practitioners, foster carers and partner
agencies. The aim is to ensure that young people are suitably prepared
and skilled to manage the physical and emotional challenges of
independent living and that practitioners, foster carers and partner
agencies can act as good parents in supporting young people towards
increased independence as they prepare for adult life.
h. We have improved the way in which advice and support in relation to
education, employment, and training is provided within the Independent
Futures Service.
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